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BEST NON-TOXIC COFFEE MAKERS (PLASTIC-FREE, TOXIN-FREE, MOLD FREE)

These coffee makers are plastic-free and toxin-free and they won’t allow mold and bacteria to grow. They are affordable, easy to use and keep clean, and they make an amazing cup of coffee!

With growing concern that chemicals from plastic may leach into our food, water and of course – coffee, I have been getting lots of emails from readers asking about the non-toxic ways to make coffee at home. Some of our readers are concerned about plastic taste and smell in their coffee, while others ask about the mold and bacteria growth.

Bacteria and mold: while the dark and moist environment is a good place for mold and bacteria to grow, this can be easily prevented with regular cleaning. It’s just with all other kitchen appliances – if you don’t clean something regularly, it’s going to get filthy. So, just keep your coffee maker nice and clean and it will be fine.

Also, when buying a new coffee maker make sure to choose a coffee maker with lots of removable parts that are easy to clean and dry. Coffee makers like Moccamaster, Oxo or Bonavita are easy to keep clean on a daily basis and they make amazing coffee as well. Great choice if you want a good coffee maker, but you don’t want to worry about the mold or bacteria.

And, for those who are trying to reduce exposure to chemicals in plastic as much as possible, these are my favorite plastic-free coffee makers:

1. Hario pour over filter, ceramic
If you normally make one or two cups in the morning Hario is the best little tool. You just place the paper filter in the dripper, bring the water to a boil and pour. The entire process takes less than 3 minutes and the coffee tastes amazing. When you finish, quickly rinse the dripper and you’re done. It will take a few tries to get a really good cup, but after you figure it out it will work great. Hario produces nice, sweet, clean cup. Here’s how to use the pour over filter.

2. Chemex
Combining glass and natural wood, Chemex will look great sitting on your countertop. Just like Hario, it produces clean and sweet cup with almost no bitterness. It’s easy to use: you place the filter, heat up some water and pour. You can make several cups in just 4 minutes. Chemex comes in various cup sizes like 3, 6 or 8 cups, but I recommend the 8 cup Chemex (holds 40 ounces), especially if you want to make multiple cups in the morning. The glass is quite delicate though, so you’ll need to handle it with care.

3. French press
The French press is the simplest way of brewing a good cup of coffee at home. You place coarsely ground coffee into the press, pour in some boiled water, stir and wait. After 4 minutes you press the plunger and it’s ready for serving! The French press is the best option for those who like heavy-bodied, strong cup of coffee. This method is really hard to mess up and it’s very reliable. Here’s how to make French press coffee.

coffee filters

If you choose a Hario or Chemex, you will also need some toxin-free coffee filters. I use unbleached paper filters, but you can also use permanent stainless steel filters.
There are also some great reusable organic cotton coffee filters. You will need to wash and dry them, but they are the most eco-friendly and toxin-free option available.

WATER KETTLE

If you want to go toxin-free, you’ll want to avoid plastic water kettles. Stainless steel kettles are a popular choice, but apparently, metal kettles can also be harmful if they are made from low-quality materials. Choose wisely and if possible, choose a water kettle (electric or stovetop) that is all-glass or mostly glass with no plastic parts coming in contact with water.
A narrow spout on the goose-neck kettles gives more control and slow pour, but you can do a pretty good job with almost any kettle with a spout. If you already have a kettle that you love and you know it’s safe, just use that one – it will work perfectly!

A few more (brewing) tips:
– Rinse your brewer with hot water before you add coffee and start brewing. This helps maintain the temperature while brewing for best extraction.
– You don’t really need a thermometer to make good coffee. Simply bring the water to a boil, remove from heat and wait for a few seconds. The hot water just off the boil will have pretty much an optimal brewing temperature (about 205°F).
– If you want to make a really good cup of coffee, use proper coffee to water ratio. I like to use 14,15 grams of coffee per 8 ounces of water. Don’t have a scale?! No problem – here’s a conversion chart.
– To keep your brewer in a good shape, handwash with mild soap and warm water after each use and leave to dry.